UTSA prof under investigation for second time in a matter of months

Students of Anita Moss allege she's being treated unfairly and are petitioning for her return to lecture.

Author:
Vanessa Croix

Published:
10:34 PM CST January 22, 2019

Updated:
10:34 PM CST January 22, 2019

SAN ANTONIO — A University of Texas San Antonio professor has been relieved of her teaching duties for the second time in less than six months.

Anita Moss came under fire in November for calling police on a student who wouldn’t take her feet off the desk, in an incident captured on video.

The incident resulted in an investigation last year, but the university found that racial bias wasn’t a factor in the incident. In addition, they found her behavior did not disrupt the learning environment.

The university reinstated her teaching duties, and she taught the first week of the spring semester.

However, students said they received an email Sunday night from another professor saying he was taking over the teaching duties of Moss's classes.

Students said they’re frustrated because the university didn’t notify them of the change.

“We feel she’s being treated unfairly," said one student, Ashley Thompson. "We feel like she was slandered unfairly."

Another peer said he based his schedule around the class, figuring that Moss would teach the entire semester.

“Now I have a professor I didn’t even sign up for,” John Long said.

University officials confirmed that faculty were informed Sunday night of Moss being relieved of her teaching duties once again.

“A preliminary inquiry revealed that despite persistent and substantive intervention, there remains persistent concerns with Dr. Moss’s classroom management that warrant her relief from all instructional responsibilities at this time,” Kimberly Andrews Espy, UTSA vice provost and vice president of academic affairs, wrote in the message to faculty.

Meanwhile, students are left wondering why this is happening all over again.

“I’m very upset because I've taken her before and I knew what she's like and I loved her,” Alex Gonzalez said.

University officials told KENS 5 that the investigation will revolve around whether or not Moss “failed to comply with required remedial action, including having her syllabi approved by her department chair prior to use.”

In the teacher's syllabus for Anatomy and Physiology 2, she lists her rules for Classroom Civility.

Students, however, continue to stress that Moss was treated unfairly, saying she has every right to enforce rules like keeping feet off desks and refraining from talking during lecture.

“It’s not your home, it’s a classroom. People want to learn," Gonzalez said. "If you want to do that, then go home."